Sold a car and now the head gasket has gone

sebdangerfield

Lazy_Ike wrote: »

I am no mechanic, and also I am not a lawyer.
I have no idea how a mechanic can state that a head gasket has been "gone for while". In my experience - lost 2 head gaskets in 2 cars over past 30+ years - when the gasket goes you soon know through either loss of coolant or coolant in the oil.
I wonder what evidence they have that the gasket has gone. I have had a couple of Skodas, and they suffer from 'mayonnaise' on the oil filler cap, which when I saw it the first time, I assumed the worst - that the head gasket had gone. A google search came up with the 'mayonnaise' description (coupled with no other symptoms) and which disappeared after the next long run getting the car up to full temperature for a prolonged period.
Regarding Caveat Emptor, I have to say that although the 'buyer must beware', a buyer also expects, when buying an item, no matter from whom, that it to be capable of performing its function and for a reasonable length of time. ie a car sold as a runner needs to be just that, and not just for a couple of days. But if you have had the work done you state, and the car checked over I would say you well placed to maintain that the car was in running condition - and expected to remain so - at the time of sale. Who knows what the new owner has got up to, even in the short time they have had it?
I know these are mixed messages, but hope that this helps.

True and very good post. However, this all applies to dealers and garages i.e when the item is purchased from a business. This is a personal second hand sale and even the fact you mentioned it is a good runner means nothing. As previously mentioned, the legal aspect is simple. The moral one is far more interesting!

Dave101t

justcat, sorry to say this but you are such a typical worrying lady. you sold to a woman who didnt have a clue either so thats why your worried. look to my earlier posts, you in no legal or moral grey area. in 2 years if the car explodes will you worry about it? it drove of your drive so the 'good runner' thing stands true. and its an opinion anyway!

i sold my car and never heard about it again, but checked online and its no longer on the road, dont know what happened and dont care!

Inactive

Agreed, the buyer had the chance to inspect and test the car, she chose not to, ignore her.

justcat

Thanks everyone!
Dave101t, I am such a worrier! I just like to make sure she can't come back to me about this. To be honest, I don't think me saying it's a good runner would trump the fact that she didn't test drive the car or get a mechanic.

vikingaero

Anihilator wrote: »

Which it clearly wasnt if the head gasket was blown.

Do not make statements like this about cars. If their mechanic comes back and states the gasket had been blown for some time then you are in a bit of a situation as they can state you lied.

Imo If I was you I would be looking to come to a deal on paying part of the fees for repair or similar.

Cars can fail a day after purchase or 1,000 days after purchase. It's random and hard luck. If she wanted a Marks & Spencer Premium Warranty and all the bells and whistles then she should have shopped at a dealer and not gone to Lidl.

AnnaV

How many days after having it's MOT did you sell it? Could the garage be trying to rip her off?

Anihilator

Sorry but if the car has sat on a drive barely used then describining it as a good runner was naive and basically a lie since it hadnt been running for you to know this.

Premier_2

hartcjhart wrote: »

I was on about his post no7

So was I

Inactive

Anihilator wrote: »

Sorry but if the car has sat on a drive barely used then describining it as a good runner was naive and basically a lie since it hadnt been running for you to know this.

But the buyer had the opportunity to verify if it was a good runner, she chose not to.

" Good runner " doesn't mean very much anyway.

justcat

Anilator, the MOT was only just done and again as far as I was aware, it was a good runner. Again, not a lie as it's my opinion. It's not like I said it was black but it wasn't.
To be honest, I was starting to feel better and everyone else seems to think I am okay but your comments keep worrying me again.